I've worked in markets where customers won't say anything to you and now work in one where they expect you to be social. It's easy to never have to say anything to your customers (because they won't speak back), but I find myself in a very fortunate situation--I can brighten someone's day.
Today this guy came in looking for a cut that we don't carry often (only on ads). It was boneless pork rib ends. He was excited about these fatty things, and I could tell he had plans for the weekend to fire up the smoker and make a day of it. We introduced ourselves and I took his order. From then on we were on a first name basis and I became his personal meat cutter. We talked some more and he bought a bunch more stuff.
Shortly thereafter, an older lady who had a hard time getting around approached me and told me that her husband had some problems with tenderness in his mouth but loved to eat meat. Just by looking at her eyes, so lively and compassionate, I had to go above and beyond. I fixed her up quickly with the beef tips she was looking for, upgraded to our very best at no extra cost. She smiled bightly and thanked me multiple times. Having people like this doing business with us was well woth a tiny loss, because I know she'll be back. But best of all, I made her and her husband's day, as well as mine.
So, if some meat cutter you know or work with thinks that 'customer service' doesn't matter, they are in the wrong business.
I pride myself in giving the very best service I can. We have quite a few elderly that shop in my store. They often need special sized cuts that are smaller than the average due to eating smaller portions etc. I cater to all ages and always try to help if they need to know how to cook things too I awalys think of my own Mum being on her own and not wanting to eat that danged roast allllllll week!
A couple old gals that shop at our store like to feed the birds, so I give them pure lamb suet for free. It really makes their day! And it makes some of the local birds pretty happy too!
The first day I worked in a grocery store, I was told that the customer is special. Without them, there would be no job. I took that advice to heart. Since then, I try to go out of my way to please the customers. I talk to them, help them find items in the store, listen to their personal problems, and help out on their meat choices. Being a PR is part of the job. My ex partner is the same way. He went to help out at one of our other stores and was telling hello to most of the customers there and they were'nt used to it. The meatcutters at that store were not too talkative to their people.
